Tarot Cards for Beginners: What Are They and How Do You Read Them?

Tarot is a deck of 78 cards used for divination, guidance, and self-reflection. Each card carries its own symbolism and meaning, often related to life’s themes, challenges, and journeys. For centuries, tarot has been used to explore questions about the past, present, and future.

This article offers an objective overview of the tarot for beginners interested in understanding how the cards work.

What Is Tarot?

The tarot is a card system, most commonly used for personal guidance, decision-making, and uncovering hidden truths. Each deck consists of 78 cards, divided into two main sections: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. Every card has a unique image, name, and meaning, contributing to a detailed tapestry of possible interpretations during a reading.

Unlike traditional playing cards, which are used for games, tarot cards are read with the intent of finding symbolic meaning. A tarot reader shuffles and lays out cards in a specific pattern, or “spread,” to explore various aspects of a querent’s life.

Origins and History of Tarot

The origins of the tarot are somewhat debated, though many historians trace its development to the 15th century in Europe, where it began as a card game known as “tarocchi.” Over time, the cards took on deeper meaning, with some individuals attributing spiritual or mystical significance to them.

By the 18th century, tarot was increasingly used for divination, influenced by esoteric traditions like Kabbalah, alchemy, and astrology. The most famous tarot deck, the Rider-Waite Tarot, was created in 1909 by artist Pamela Colman Smith and occultist A.E. Waite. Today, tarot decks are widely used in various contexts, from spiritual practice to psychological reflection.

Structure of the Tarot Deck

A standard tarot deck is divided into two main categories: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana.

1. The Major Arcana

The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards, each representing significant life themes, spiritual lessons, or major transitions. These cards often hold deeper meaning and are interpreted as more impactful or influential than Minor Arcana cards. They are numbered from 0 to 21, starting with The Fool and ending with The World.

Here are a few key Major Arcana cards:

The Fool (0): Symbolizes new beginnings, spontaneity, and adventure.
The Magician (1): Represents willpower, skill, and manifestation.
The High Priestess (2): Signifies intuition, mystery, and the subconscious mind.
The Lovers (6): Highlights love, harmony, and relationships.
Death (13): Often misunderstood, it represents transformation and endings.
The World (21): Symbolizes completion, fulfillment, and achievement.

Each card from the Major Arcana tells a story about the human journey, often referred to as “The Fool’s Journey.” As the Fool moves through the deck, he encounters new experiences, challenges, and lessons, reflecting the cycles of growth we experience in life.

2. The Minor Arcana

The Minor Arcana is composed of 56 cards divided into four suits: Cups, Wands, Swords, and Pentacles. Each suit corresponds to a different area of life and is further divided into cards numbered 1 to 10, plus four court cards: Page, Knight, Queen, and King.

Cups: Represents emotions, relationships, and intuition.
Wands: Associated with energy, action, and creativity.
Swords: Linked to thoughts, communication, and conflict.
Pentacles: Represents material aspects, like work, money, and stability.

While the Major Arcana represents overarching themes, the Minor Arcana cards reflect day-to-day situations and more specific challenges or influences in one’s life.

For a more in-depth list of meanings and correspondences, check out our article on Tarot Card Meanings.

How Tarot Works: Understanding Spreads

A tarot reading involves laying out a series of cards in a spread, which is a specific arrangement of cards that represent different areas of life or questions. The cards drawn and their positions within the spread provide a framework for interpreting the querent’s situation.

Common Tarot Spreads

Here are a few popular spreads used in tarot readings:

The One-Card Spread: A single card drawn for quick insight or daily guidance.
The Three-Card Spread: One of the simplest spreads, often representing past, present, and future or body, mind, and spirit.
The Celtic Cross Spread: A 10-card spread providing a detailed look at the querent’s current situation, challenges, and potential outcomes.

Each card’s position in the spread affects its meaning. For instance, a card drawn in the “past” position may symbolize an influence from a previous experience, while a card in the “future” position could suggest what lies ahead.

Key Concepts in Tarot

Several concepts are central to understanding tarot readings. Below are some of the most important ideas.

Upright vs. Reversed Cards

During a tarot reading, cards can be drawn in an upright or reversed (upside-down) position. The position often influences the interpretation of the card:

Upright Cards: Typically interpreted in their traditional sense. For example, the Sun card upright often symbolizes positivity, vitality, and success.
Reversed Cards: Often indicate a blocked or opposite energy. For instance, the Sun reversed may suggest setbacks or diminished optimism.

Not all tarot readers use reversed meanings, but they can provide added layers of depth in a reading.

Card Symbolism

Each tarot card is rich in symbolism, often drawing from mythology, religion, and other esoteric traditions. For instance:

The Fool is shown stepping off a cliff, symbolizing the leap of faith or entering the unknown.
The Lovers depicts Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, representing choices in love and partnerships.

The imagery on the cards is designed to prompt intuitive interpretations, so many tarot readers combine traditional meanings with personal insights when interpreting spreads.

Intuition in Tarot Readings

A core aspect of tarot is using intuition to interpret the cards. While traditional meanings offer a base, many tarot readers rely on their instincts, the querent’s energy, and the specific question asked. The same card may have different meanings depending on its context within a reading.

Using Tarot: Common Applications

Many people turn to tarot for different reasons. Below are some of the common ways tarot is used:

Self-Reflection and Personal Growth

Tarot can be a powerful tool for self-reflection. By exploring the cards’ symbolism, individuals often gain insight into their subconscious feelings, motivations, or patterns. A tarot reading may help someone identify areas of personal development or prompt them to think more deeply about their current life situation.

Decision-Making

Some use tarot as a form of guidance when making decisions. A tarot reading may not predict the future but can help clarify options or highlight factors that the querent may not have considered. The cards can encourage introspection and provide new perspectives on challenging situations.

Relationships and Emotional Guidance

Tarot is often used in the context of relationships—whether romantic, familial, or platonic. The cards can shed light on individual dynamics, providing insights into compatibility, conflicts, or emotional needs. A common reading in this context may focus on how each party contributes to the relationship and what factors may need attention.

Spiritual Guidance

For those interested in the spiritual or mystical, tarot can be part of a broader practice of self-discovery. Some individuals integrate tarot readings with other practices, such as meditation, journaling, or energy work, to explore deeper spiritual questions or personal growth.

Understanding Tarot’s Popularity and Cultural Impact

In modern times, tarot has seen a resurgence in popularity, often linked to an increased interest in self-care, mindfulness, and esoteric practices. Many people view tarot as a tool for introspection rather than fortune-telling, using it to explore life’s complexities from a new angle.

Online tarot resources, social media platforms, and mobile apps have made tarot more accessible than ever, with many people incorporating it into daily routines for guidance or reflection. Some practitioners host readings on platforms like YouTube or offer remote readings for clients around the world.

While some view tarot as purely symbolic or psychological, others engage with it on a spiritual level. It is used across cultures, often blending with other practices like astrology, numerology, and meditation.

Tarot and Skepticism

Although tarot has a long history and a devoted following, its efficacy remains a matter of debate. From a scientific standpoint, tarot is considered a form of pseudoscience because its claims are not empirically validated. Skeptics often argue that the insights gained from tarot readings are based on psychological mechanisms like the Barnum effect, where general statements are perceived as highly personal.

However, many individuals continue to use tarot as a method for self-reflection or creative exploration, even if they don’t believe in its predictive power. For some, tarot offers a framework for thinking about life events symbolically, leading to new ways of processing personal experiences.

Tarot Cards for Beginners: What Are They and How Do You Read Them?

What Is Tarot?

Origins and History of Tarot